Drivers: do you change your own oil?

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I always have. I grew up believing that no self-respecting individual should bring their car to an overpriced garage to get their oil changed when they can EASILY do it themselves.

But I'm conflicted. Firestone has this thing now, $12.99 for an oil change, plus they rotate your tires (which I never, ever do, though I totally should). $12.99 is cheaper than it costs me to do it myself (i use the fancy Lucas oil, after all - nothing's too good for The Wolf) and, with work and an impending tour to prepare for, time is limited, and the days are shorter now, and the thought of getting under the car (an activity I used to enjoy very much) in the dry leaf-covered driveway, seems very unappealing.

Is this the beginning of the end? What's next - paying someone to change my guitar strings? Open my umbrella? Walk my dog?

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 03:16 (twenty years ago)

I used to do it myself until I bought a civic. its fucking impossible to get under one of those things without ramps, and the fact that when you pay to get your oil changed they hook you up with all the other fluids (at least thats what they tell you). and at jiffy lube they vacuum your interior, which is dope.

― still bevens (bscrubbins), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 03:19 (twenty years ago)

I pay to have my oil changed because I am a self-respecting individual who has more important things to do.

― Dan Quisenberry (deangulberry), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 03:24 (twenty years ago)

I'm kind of half and half on this. Sometimes I do it, but sometimes I like my reglar mechanic to get under there and check things out.

Yeah, I had a Honda Accord and it was impossible to do at home. So naturally, I sold the Accord and bought some ramps at a great yard sale price: One dollar for the pair.

― jim wentworth (wench), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 03:38 (twenty years ago)

I don't trust ramps. I guess because I didn't learn on ramps. I just use wheel blocks. I've known many hard luck Mexicans involved in brutal accidents using ramps.

― Roger Fidelity (Roger Fidelity), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 03:49 (twenty years ago)

They do look a little uncertain. But when I put the car up on them, I shake the daylights out of it to make sure it won't move. I know what you mean.

― jim wentworth (wench), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 04:50 (twenty years ago)

When I had a place to go (my parking spot here is too slanty for safely jacking or ramping) I always did it myself, or I'd let my brother do it so he could feel macho. My car is fucked right now (engine light's been on for a couple of weeks; it's running rough and sucking gas like crazy but it doesn't stall so I keep driving it like an idiot) so I'm really missing having a place to work on it.

― Bryan (Bryan), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 05:30 (twenty years ago)

No way - I don't wanna get oil on my hands, and I'd probably fuck it up and ruin my engine somehow. Twenty bucks or so is money well spent, plus yeah, they vacuum the carpet, something that very rarely gets done by me.

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 07:23 (twenty years ago)

Sometimes I do and sometimes not. I like the self-sufficient feeling when I do, but I don't care so much that I'll never pay someone else to do it.

― beanz (beanz), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 10:46 (twenty years ago)

I put the wrong oil in the car the one time I did it. Well done me.

― Markelby (Mark C), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 10:54 (twenty years ago)

I definitely don't trust myself to be able to change my oil properly - I'd probably do something like that too. I really have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to cars.

― caitlin (caitlin), Tuesday, 2 November 2004 12:03 (twenty years ago)

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